OFF THE CUFF is a participative blog run by the Crash. Its purpose is to expose the diversity of experiences and opinions that exist among humanitarian aid practitioners. Online comments as well as direct contributions are more than welcome.
Views expressed on this blog are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of Médecins Sans Frontières
The security debate: restricting one’s individual freedom?
John Tucker exposes his opinion of some aspects of MSF security management in the Kenyan capital. In particular, he asks: how to balance the benefits of a lower exposure to risks and the issues raised by the restrictions to one's individual freedom.
Paralysis: How political deadlock is failing to stop polio in Syria
The chances of a person to receive life-saving health care inside Syria today are defined by the side of the front-line in which they happen to be. It is the consequence of deliberate choices made by those who hold the guns, and also of the operational compromises accepted by aid agencies themselves.
Polio in Syria: an opportunity to save lives?
Deployment of chemical weapons in Syria has proven to be such a horrific event it has mobilized the muscle and diplomacy of the most powerful international actors. What will it take to unleash this same determination to come to the aid of the youngest Syrians?
Book launch : International Organization and Global Governance
Fabrice Weissman, coordinator and director of Studies at Crash has published 'Crisis and humanitarian containment' in International organization and global governance.
The Last Mile. Can we afford to keep believing in the eradication of polio?
In the 1980s, a global commitment was made to eradicate polio in the wake of the eradication of smallpox. As far as the world health community was concerned, this successful experience made it an example model on which to base future campaigns against infectious diseases.
MSF launches website revealing insights to its decisions to speak out on crises
Médecins Sans Frontières is today launching an educational website "Speaking Out" that provides unprecedented insight into its decisions during key humanitarian crises of the past 40 years.
The plague and cholera
Three years after it occurred, Haiti's cholera epidemic is still in the news.
Scaling up aid in Syria: the role of diaspora networks
Syria is certainly the most deadly conflict in the world today and the most underserved in terms of international humanitarian assistance. Exposed to violence and lack of essential services, millions of Syrians, living under the authority of opposition groups, have almost no access to international humanitarian relief.
Médecins Sans Frontières and the ICRC: matters of principle
How do Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) differ, and how are they alike?
Perspectives on the future of humanitarian action
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the ICRC (1863-2013) and in light of the recently launched issue of the Review on "The future of humanitarian action", the Harvard Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) and the International Review of the Red Cross are pleased to co-host a Live Web Seminar on the topic: "Perspectives on the Future of Humanitarian Action"...
Three questions to Fabrice Weissman on current humanitarian challenges
What are your tangible suggestions for improving negotiations with Syrian government for cross border access, and why do you believe that greater pressure from OCHA and ICRC would yield results?
David Miliband’s new role will only hinder our aid work
The appointment of David Miliband as president and CEO by a major relief agency is another nail in the coffin to claims of humanitarian independence.